Gadamer Anna Maria, Miklaszewski Piotr, Janiszewska-Bil Dominika, Lyssek-Boroń Anita, Dobrowolski Dariusz, Wylęgała Edward, Grabarek Beniamin Oskar, Kiełbasińska Aleksandra, Krysik Katarzyna
Department of Ophthalmology, St. Barbara Hospital, Trauma Centre, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland.
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Academy of Silesia, 40-555 Katowice, Poland.
J Clin Med. 2024 Aug 28;13(17):5111. doi: 10.3390/jcm13175111.
Keratoconus (KC) is a bilateral eye disease characterized by corneal thinning and cone-like deformation, leading to visual impairment. This study evaluated the radial peripapillary capillaries (RPCs) in keratoconus patients with and without penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) using OCT and angio-OCT, comparing the results to a control group. This retrospective study included 149 eyes, 97 from patients who underwent PKP between January 2018 and February 2023 and 52 from patients who did not undergo PKP. The control group comprised 72 patients (144 eyes) who were healthy volunteers. Measurements included the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the intraocular pressure (IOP), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, a fundus examination, and corneal topography, as well as OCT and angio-OCT assessments of the RPCs, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and central retinal thickness (CRT). Statistical analyses were performed using Student's -test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The RNFL was significantly thinner in KC eyes after PKP compared to control eyes ( < 0.001), and the CRT was significantly thicker in KC eyes after PKP compared to control eyes ( = 0.003). However, the GCC was similar across the groups ( = 0.0885). Additionally, RPCs inside the disc were significantly reduced in KC eyes after PKP compared to control eyes ( < 0.0001). A significant positive correlation was found between RPC whole vessel density and RNFL thickness as measured via angio-OCT (r = 0.308, < 0.0001). This study found that the RPC density inside the disc is significantly reduced in keratoconus patients after penetrating keratoplasty, highlighting RPCs inside the disc as a potential diagnostic tool for further assessment of keratoconus.
圆锥角膜(KC)是一种双侧眼病,其特征为角膜变薄和圆锥样变形,可导致视力损害。本研究使用光学相干断层扫描(OCT)和血管OCT评估了接受和未接受穿透性角膜移植术(PKP)的圆锥角膜患者的视乳头周围放射状毛细血管(RPC),并将结果与对照组进行比较。这项回顾性研究纳入了149只眼,其中97只来自2018年1月至2023年2月期间接受PKP的患者,52只来自未接受PKP的患者。对照组包括72名健康志愿者(144只眼)。测量指标包括最佳矫正视力(BCVA)、眼压(IOP)、裂隙灯生物显微镜检查、眼底检查、角膜地形图,以及RPC、视网膜神经纤维层(RNFL)、神经节细胞复合体(GCC)和中央视网膜厚度(CRT)的OCT和血管OCT评估。使用学生t检验和皮尔逊相关系数进行统计分析。与对照眼相比,PKP术后KC眼的RNFL明显更薄(P<0.001),PKP术后KC眼的CRT明显更厚(P = 0.003)。然而,各组间GCC相似(P = 0.0885)。此外,与对照眼相比,PKP术后KC眼视盘内的RPC明显减少(P<0.0001)。通过血管OCT测量发现,RPC全血管密度与RNFL厚度之间存在显著正相关(r = 0.308,P<0.0001)。本研究发现,穿透性角膜移植术后圆锥角膜患者视盘内的RPC密度显著降低,突出了视盘内RPC作为进一步评估圆锥角膜的潜在诊断工具。